Earth moving hydraulic suction nozzles



Dec. 18, 1956 K. o. F. .JAcoBsEN 2,774,569

EARTH uovING HYDRAULIC sucTIoN NozzLEs Filed April 5, 1954 Blf/M439:

A fro/QM? V5 United States Patent() EARTH MOVING HYDRAULIC SUCTION NOZZLES Karl Oscar F. Jacobsen, Seattle, Wash. Application April s, 1954,serial No. 420,333

3 Claims. (Cl. 255-24) This invention relates to an improved hydraulicsuction nozzle for earth moving purposes such as well boring, placermining, subterraneous testing for mineral deposits, and the like. Theinvention is herein illustratively described by reference to itspresently preferred form; however, it will be appreciated that certainchanges and modifications in it may be made without departing from theessential features involved.

Except in dense rock formations the hydraulic suction method of removingearth for any of the above or related purposes is both rapid andinexpensive when proper equipment is available. In practice, however,use of the method has been limited primarily by certain shortcomings ofsuction nozzles heretofore devised. Frequent clogging of these nozzlesby rocks and other objects was the chief cause of diiculty. The presentinvention is directed to the overcoming of these and other diicultieswith prior nozzle devices.

Specifically, an object of the invention is a non-clogging hydraulicsuction nozzle useful in the above-described and related applications.Related objects include a rugged and durable suction nozzle constructionwhich is relatively compact, light in weight and adapted for effectivedislodgment and removal of earth materials by the combined effects ofmechanical agitation and hydraulic suction.

In some situations water may be present in suicient quantites to satisfythe suction capacity of the hydraulic system connected to the nozzle,whereby the nozzle structure need not necessarily have associated withit hydraulic ejector nozzle apparatus. Preferably, however, water isejected under pressure through force jet nozzles mounted adjacent thesuction nozzle for the combined purposes of lubrication, agitation andfor the supply of sufficient water for carrying materials into andthrough the suction nozzle. Further agitation of the earth materials tobe removed is effected by mechanical oscillation of the nozzle devicewhich is constructed in a manner designed to effect dislodgment of earthmaterials readily by rotary movement of the device about itslongitudinal or vertical axis.

As disclosed herein, the improved suction nozzle device comprises anozzle base of tubular form from the lower end of which projects lapluralityv vof elongated strainer bars or` grid members which convergemutually to an interconnecting tip member to. form a generally conicalgrid structure. Within this grid structure is Vmounted a helical spring,the successive coils of Vwhich are spaced apart to permit ow of indrawnhydraulic liquid and earth materials through the grid structure and intothe tubular base member. Preferably the opposite ends of this spring areanchored to the nozzle structure, but the intermediate portions of thespring are free to deflect under impact of objects drawn into -thenozzle structure by the suction current. The helical spring is generallytapered along its length conformably to the taper of the grid structureso that the coils are in contact or substantially in contact with theinside faces of 2,774,569 Patented Dec. 18, 1956 the elongated gridmembers, whereby they provide reinforcing against inward deformationofsuch members and also serve as dellecting elements preventing indrawnobjects from becoming lodged between the elongated grid members.Preferably the elongated grid members are bowed outwardly somewhat alongtheir length for further strengthening of the grid structure.

In accordance with the illustrated form of the earth moving structurethere is also provided an annular duct surrounding the nozzle basemember and having ejector orifices in the lower end thereof by whichhydraulic liquid (water) under pressure is ejected downwardly along thesuction nozzle to provide a supply of hydraulic liquid for carrying theearth materials through the suction nozzle and for agitating orloosening such materials in order to place them in suspension to bedrawn off readily by the suction stream.

These and other features, objects and advantages of the invention willbecome more fully evident from the following description by reference tothe accompanying drawings.`

Figure 1 is a side elevation view illustrating the improved suctionnozzle device and associated hydraulic conduits used therewith.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view illustrating furtherdetails of construction and the mode of operation of the device.

Referring to the drawings, the improved hydraulic suction nozzle devicecomprises the tubular nozzle base member 10 preferably in the form of asteel pipe or fitting, adapted at its upper end for connection, as by acoupler 12 to an hydraulic suction conduit 14 connected to a source ofhydraulic suction (not shown). In the s lice preferred application ofthe invention the tubular mem-i lower end welded or otherwise secured tothe exterior ofV the tubular member 10. Openings 16b in this flangeconstitute ejector orices through which hydraulic liquid will ow underpressure from the pressure conduit 18. The conduit 18 threaded into theupper end of litting 16 extends from the tting along the length of aportion of the suction conduit 14 which it surrounds, and then branchesolf therefrom through a T fitting 20 toa suitable source of hydraulicpressure (not shown).

The suction nozzle device proper incorporating the tubular 1oase member10 is generally in the form of a conical open grid structure comprisinga plurality of elongated rods or bars 22 projecting endwise from thetubular member 10 at spaced locations around the circumference thereofand converging to an interconnecting nozzletip member 24 which is ofgenerally pointed form to pene-V trate the earth readily. The upper endsof the elongated members 22 are secured to the tubular member 10 in anysuitable manner, the preferred manner being that illustrated, namelyinserting the members 22 in longitudinal bores formed in the member 10and tack welding them in place therein. Preferably the elongatedmembers`2'2- are formed to bow outwardly valong their lengthlforimparting strength to the open grid structure formed by these members.Since in the preferred form of the device the elongated members 22 areof uniformperipheral width throughout jthejirl length, the fopen spacebetween adjacent members will taper in width downwardly to the tip ofthe structure.

Mounted concentrically within the` conically tapered grid structurecomprising the members 22 is a conform* ably tapered helical spring 26extending lengthwise of the nozzle structure. The lower end of thisspring is anchored to the nozzle tip member 24 and its opposite end tothe tubular base member 10. The coils or turns of this spring aregraduated in diameter so that each lies closely adjacent the insidefaces of the grid members 22 and thereby provides reinforcing to suchgrid members assisting to prevent inward bending thereof when in use.The spacing between successive coils or turns of the spring ispreferably somewhat greater than the transverse spacing between adjacentgrid structure members 22 at corresponding locationsV along the lengthof the nozzle device. Thus objects, such as stones, which are capable offreely passing through spaces between adjacent members 22 will likewisepass between adjacent spring coils at the same locations. However, thepresence of the helical spring within the grid structure has greatersignificance than merely reinforcing the latter. Rocks and other objectswhich are of a shape and size which might become lodged between adjacentgrid structure members 22 as they are being drawn upwardly of the nozzlestructure by the suction stream bump against the spring coils and aredeflected outwardly thereby as indicated at d in Figure 2. Thus thespring 26 minimizes the possibility of clogging of the nozzle device,This anti-clogging property of the nozzle device is further promoted byanchoring only the ends of the spring so that the coils thereof are freeto deflect slightly under impact of objects to be thus deflected. Thehelical incline of the spring coils is also found to be of assistance inthe same regard, and is greatly superior to annular rings secured atspaced locations within and along the length of the grid structure. Asillustrated at Ina, the lower edge of the tubular base member 10 isconvexly rounded or chamfered, so that rocks or other objects drawnupwardly by the suction stream and failing to enter the interior of thegrid structure will be deiiected outwardly upon reaching Contact withthe tubular member itself,

It will also be noted that any tendency for the nozzle device to clog isfurther minimized by the progressive increase of spacing betweenadjacent grid members 22 upwardly of the structure. Nevertheless, thecoils of spring 26 as deecting elements are essential to theanticlogging property of the nozzle device. As a large object slidesprogressively upward between two adjacent members 22 and tends to wedgemore deeply into the widening space therebetween but is still too largeto pass through that space into the interior of the nozzle device, suchan object contacts and is deflected outwardly by a resilient coil orcoils of the spring.

In use the nozzle and supporting pipe structure is preferably oscillatedmechanically about its vertical axis so that the earth material intowhich it is embedding itself is loosened and rendered more readilywaterborne. The ribbed formation of the grid structure assists inloosening the earth with this type of motion. The agitating action ofthe hydraulic force jets issuing from the orifices 161i also promotessuspension of the earth materials in water so as to be drawn upwardlythrough the nozzle device and into the suction tubing. In this mannerthe device may be used for boring deep holes into the ground, fortesting the mineral content of soil strata at varying depths, for placermining in river beds and elsewhere, and in various other ways. Theability to remove large quantities of material over a period of timewithout clogging is the main advantage of the device. Its compactnessand adaptability for the intended uses and its ruggedness and durabilityare also important advantages.

I claim as my invention:

1. The earth-moving hydraulic suction nozzle device comprising a nozzlebase member of tubular form adapted for connection to an hydraulicsuction conduit for drawing of earth materials through said tubularmember by hydraulic suction applied thereto, a plurality of elongatedmembers carried by said tubular member and projecting beyond one endthereof at locations spaced apart around the circumference of saidtubular member, said elongated members throughout their length being ofsubstantially uniform width measured circumferentially of said tubularmember, said elongated members being formed to converge mutually in thedirection away from said tubular member, a generally pointed nozzle tipmember interconnecting the projecting ends of said convergent members toform an open grid structure of generally conical form throughV whichindrawn hydraulic liquid and earth materials pass before owing throughsaid tubular member, and helical spring means received concentricallywithin said open grid structure and extending lengthwise thereofsubstantially throughout the length of said grid structure, thesuccessive coils of said helical spring means being of progressivelygraduated diameters to lit closely within said grid structure andreinforce the same against inward deformation of the elongated membersthereof, said helical spring means coils being spaced apart to permitpassage therebetween of said indrawn liquid and materials and serving asa deflector of indrawn objects otherwise tending to become lodgedbetween said elongated members.

2. The earth-moving hydraulic suction nozzle device comprising a nozzlebase member of tubular form adapted for connection to any hydraulicsuction conduit for drawing of earth materials through said tubularmember by hydraulic suction applied thereto, a plurality of elongatedmembers carried by said tubular member and projecting beyond one endthereof at locations spaced apart around the circumference of saidtubular member, said elongated members throughout their length being ofsubstantially uniform width measured circumferentially of said tubularmember, said elongated members being formed to converge mutually in thedirection away from said tubular member, a generally pointed nozzle tipmember interconnecting the projecting ends of said convergent members toform an open grid structure of generally conical form through whichindrawn hydraulic liquid and earth materials pass before owing throughsaid tubular member, and grid structure reinforcing means receivedconcentrically within said open grid structure and including elementsspaced apart lengthwise thereof and formed to contact the inside facesof said elongated members at intervals along the length thereof andreinforce the same against inward deformation of the elongated member,said reinforcing elements extending around the inside periphery of saidgrid structure and thereby acting to deect indrawn objects otherwisetending to become lodged between said elongated members.

3. The suction nozzle device defined in claim 2, and hydraulic ejectornozzle means xedly connected to the tubular member for ejectinghydraulic liquid lengthwise thereof generally toward the tip of ltheconical grid structure.

UNITED STATES PATENTS References Cited in the le of this patent 156,488Males Nov. 3, 1874 2,121,858 Chew Iune 28, 1938 2,666,670 McGraw Jan.19, 1954

